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Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

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Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#451

Post by dr-detroit »

nkozyra wrote: post #166
jedberg wrote: post #64

This last summer/fall really put things in perspective for me. We did a major outdoor renovation at our house, which involved landscapers, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Every day these guys would show up at 8am and long sleeves and jeans and hard hats, work super hard, pee in a port-a-potty, and be exhausted by the end of the day. They worked out in the 100 degree heat as well as the rain as the job got nea…

There's something so insidiously, backhandedly condescending about tech workers pining for the simplicity of an honest day's job that drives me nuts. Yes, there are almost always jobs with less strenuous requirements on time, fewer requirements and late nights. But the average tech worker has a pretty good gig. And if they don't they can go down the street in 2022 and get one. Trades scratch a similar itch to develop…

No post body was provided.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#452

Post by hackerfromthefu »

hpen wrote: post #302

Landscaper -> retail associate -> construction worker -> software developer Would never go back.

Funnily enough (part-time) landscaper is neat the top of my list if I would change careers from software.

Being outside, dirt in your hands, physical exercise, and the satisfaction of seeing large changes and accomplishments relatively quickly compared to many trades.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#454

Post by 1123581321 »

lokalfarm wrote: post #450
1123581321 wrote: post #438

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to compare aches before acclimation to physical work with chronic conditions that develop over years of long, daily sedentary periods. The keyboard being more comfortable on day one isn't the point, right?

Carpal tunnel isn't about being sedentary, is it? It's about repetitive movements (from people I know who suffer from it, vibrations also exacerbate their conditions, which is why I brought up power tools) - just like the common plumbing activities that I mentioned. This isn't about aches. If your body can't handle sitting at a computer, then you are out of your mind thinking that working a trade will somehow 'be bet…

You keep mentioning carpal tunnel but I don’t think that was his main point.

It’s true that white and blue collar work have ergonomic and health hazard mitigations. I saw from another comment of yours that you mostly had to work on unsafe and inconsiderate commercial crews with no decision-making ability, which understandably colors your view of physical labor. You’re also right to point out a novice would likely fare similarly, especially if approaching a career change romantically.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#455

Post by emteycz »

nathanlied wrote: post #341
ctvo wrote: post #299

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There's something so insidiously, backhandedly condescending about tech workers pining for the simplicity of an honest day's job that drives me nuts. Agreed. SO recently left a career in academia to get a job in tech as an entry level software developer. Says this is the easiest job they've ever had in their life, and wondered why they didn't start sooner. Developers have no idea how difficult even other white coll…

Will have to third this. I have friends and acquaintances I talk to regularly from all walks of life - from construction workers to tradesmen/mechanics, all the way to bankers and the like. Out of all of them, I have the "best" job in terms of what's expected of me on a day-in-day-out basis. The biggest problem I feel us tech-workers have is that we compare our "bad" with their "good". On a good day, a construction w…

> I've often been embarrassed to describe my day to some of my friends.

Nearly every bad day at work I had ended with beers + sometimes a huge (and expensive) party. This is lifestyle comparable to high-level directors in other fields. No wonder it's totally unrelatable experience to them - they usually find the boss of their company relatable too.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#456

Post by adityavsc »

hackerfromthefu wrote: post #453
adityavsc wrote: post #10

No, I want to become a house painter or a gardener. I watch those super long house painting videos. And I'm ready to do it for FREE :)

Come on over to my place I have the painting gear ready ;)

haha - an invitation I cannot refuse :P

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#457

Post by mountainriver »

nkozyra wrote: post #166
jedberg wrote: post #64

This last summer/fall really put things in perspective for me. We did a major outdoor renovation at our house, which involved landscapers, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Every day these guys would show up at 8am and long sleeves and jeans and hard hats, work super hard, pee in a port-a-potty, and be exhausted by the end of the day. They worked out in the 100 degree heat as well as the rain as the job got nea…

There's something so insidiously, backhandedly condescending about tech workers pining for the simplicity of an honest day's job that drives me nuts. Yes, there are almost always jobs with less strenuous requirements on time, fewer requirements and late nights. But the average tech worker has a pretty good gig. And if they don't they can go down the street in 2022 and get one. Trades scratch a similar itch to develop…

I don’t think it’s condescending I think most humans weren’t made to sit behind a desk all day

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#458

Post by mountainriver »

jedberg wrote: post #64

This last summer/fall really put things in perspective for me. We did a major outdoor renovation at our house, which involved landscapers, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. Every day these guys would show up at 8am and long sleeves and jeans and hard hats, work super hard, pee in a port-a-potty, and be exhausted by the end of the day. They worked out in the 100 degree heat as well as the rain as the job got nea…

Yeah there is a reward in working physically all day though, you feel better and sleep better. Working in the elements can also be fun.

Most people weren’t made to sit behind a desk all day.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#459

Post by otachack »

ElKrist wrote: post #165
bartread wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. I work in tech and, outside of work, I'm refurbishing my house. I'm enjoying the refurbishment but would I do a trade as a full time job? Hell no. Crawling around in my loft sistering joists is satisfying work but also, if it were to become the kind of thing I did over a long period of time, would 100% wreck my knees. And that's just one downside. There are plenty more: e.g., all the ancillary guff you have…

I share your view about making estimates and quotes. I get contractors to my house to help me renovate. It's just standard practice to get multiple tradesmen (>=3) to make a quote for the same job. I do that whenever the job is above $5000. I assume they must have a lot of other clients who do the same for lower thresholds too. I don't know the margins in each trade but I guess at least half of the quote is costs? Fo…

Ditto on the contract experience you had where you gave a rough project-wide estimate. I had the exact same position. I didn't end up finishing the contract because the client refused to fulfill their end of the first, and only, contract.

If I ever get another contract I'll be doing it your way: time-based via a settled hourly rate.

Re: Anyone else feel the constant urge to leave the field and become a plumber?

#460

Post by tim333 »

all2 wrote: post #386
lta wrote: post #191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yet, in the deep country side if France, I regularly see former engineer, or business school guys selling fruits at the market, opening restaurants or café, repairing old bikes in a workshop, etc. I don't think it's condescending, I just think it's an actual thing. A friend of nice from school stopped coding to open a brewery and I'm regularly considering starting a street food thing. Even started to get some of the…

My "retirement plan" is a book store/coffee shop. I don't want to code professionally forever.

Beware that those tend not to be very profitable if not loss making.
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